Title: PM Vishwakarma Yojana

UPSC Relevance UPSC Syllabus

Prelims, Social Sector initiatives, Mains, GS Paper – II,

● PM Vishwakarma Yojana
Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the
population by the Centre and States
● Government schemes and
initiatives

Context: The union government is implementing PM Vishwakarma Scheme to support craftspeople and
artisans who work with their hands and tools.

About the PM Vishwakarma Yojana

● It’s a central sector scheme to provide

end-to-end support to the traditional
artisans and craftspeople.
o Central sector schemes are 100%
funded by the Union government
and implemented by the Central
Government machinery.
● The scheme was originally announced in
the Union Budget 2023.
● Implementing Agency: The Ministry of
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
● Beneficiaries: Individuals skilled in traditional craftsmanship, especially from the Other Backward
Classes (OBC) community.
● Eligibility Criteria:

⮚ An artisan or craftsperson working with hands and tools and engaged in one of the 18 family-
based traditional trades mentioned in the scheme, in the unorganized sector on a self-
employment basis.
⮚ The minimum age of the beneficiary should be 18 years on the date of registration.

⮚ The beneficiary should not have availed loans under similar credit-based schemes of Central
Government or State Government, e.g., PMEGP, PM SVANidhi, Mudra, in the past 5 years.
⮚ Benefits of the scheme shall be restricted to one member of the family.

⮚ A person in government service and their family members shall not be eligible under the
Scheme.
● Outlay: Rs 13,000 crore and is fully funded by the Central government.

● Key features of the scheme:

⮚ Recognition: Acknowledgment as Vishwakarma with a Certificate and ID Card.

⮚ Skilling: Basic and Advanced Training with a Training Stipend of Rs 500 per day.

⮚ Toolkit Incentive: Grant of Rs 15,000 for tools.

⮚ Credit Support: Collateral-free Enterprise Development Loans of Rs 1 lakh (First Tranche) and Rs
2 lakh (Second Tranche) with concessional interest rates and government-backed credit
guarantee fees.
⮚ Incentive for Digital Transactions: Re 1 per transaction up to 100 transactions monthly.

⮚ Marketing Support: Services like Quality Certification, Branding & Promotion, E-commerce
linkage, Trade Fairs advertising, and other marketing activities facilitated by the National
Committee for Marketing.

Q. Consider the following statements about the PM Vishwakarma Yojana:

1. It is a central sector scheme.

2. Beneficiaries must be 18 years or older and not have availed similar government loans in the past 5
years.
3. The scheme is partially funded by the Central government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

● The PM Vishwakarma Yojana is a central sector scheme. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

● Beneficiaries must be 18 years or older and not have availed similar government loans in the past 5
years. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● The scheme is fully funded by the Central government, not partially. Hence, statement 3 is not
correct.